8 Best Considerations for Buying and Installing a Metal Roofing System

Once you know you want to purchase a metal roof, being educated about the buying process and choosing the best metal roofing contractor is critical for success.

Knowing what factors into the metal roof buying process will help ensure you choose the best bid and the best qualified contractor for you.

So you’ve done all your research and officially decided that you want to buy a metal roof for your home or business. Congratulations!

But now what?

The next step in the process is to find, and ultimately choose, the right metal roofing contractor to complete the project. But before you come to that decision, there are some key considerations to keep in mind prior to purchasing a new roof.

Here at Sheffield Metals, we know how important it is that you make the best and most well-informed decision, especially when it involves something as vital as a roof for your home or business.

#1: Don’t go over your budget

It’s easily the most important aspect when you go to buy the new metal roof: Your budget.

Luckily, it’s pretty easy to discover if you have budgeted enough to cover the cost of a metal roof, as it’s typically two to three times more than a shingle roof as a one-time cost. So once you know you can afford a metal roof, let’s get into some budget specifics.

Know How Much You Can & Will Spend On New Roof

Always keep your budget in mind when determining the best metal roof installation bid or quote for you, especially if you know you only have a certain amount of money to spend.

There’s a pretty big difference between how much money you have to spend on a metal roof versus how much you are willing to spend on one. Here’s our piece of advice: Be realistic with how much you are willing to spend.

You want to get the most out of your money, but you also don’t want to spend money you don’t have or don’t feel comfortable spending. When determining an amount:

Take a detailed look at what you’re already paying in bills or other regular costs and how adding the cost of a metal roof will impact your available funds.

Determine how much money you are able and willing to spend (at most).

Prioritize the core necessities of the project, such as the metal panels and the underlayment, that are required for a functional metal roof and can’t be cut from the budget.

Make a “good, better, best” list of additional items that you want.

Pick the option/amount you feel most comfortable paying.

Know What Makes a Roof Cost More

When you’re making the list of core essentials, which should be specific to your needs and wants, knowing what could affect the cost will help you decide.

This includes adding solar panels, swamp coolers, skylights, or other additions requiring additional flashing materials or even cuts in the metal.

Home/building insurance cost fluctuation

While metal roofing insurance benefits exist, there is also the potential for drawbacks. It’s true that some homeowners could get a break on premiums because metal roofing is less likely to damage, but it could also be more expensive because the roof itself is worth more and would increase replacement costs for the insurance company.

Before you buy, consult with your insurance company to ensure they will be giving you the true value of a replacement roof if a claim must be made. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this on your own, there are roofing contractors who will deal with insurance companies on behalf of the homeowner.

Stick to Your Budget

Going slightly above or below your budget is normal, but once you start adding pieces, parts, and customizations to the roof, don’t be too surprised when the price increases beyond what you were expecting to pay. If you come to a point where you are too far over your budget, call a meeting with your contractor to discuss ways to cut back on costs.

#2: Determine what you can do with your old roof

If you’re doing a total roof replacement, there are a couple different options of what you can do with your old roof. You might be able to choose what happens with your old roof, or it could be up to the contractor, as they are often well-versed in building codes and what can or can’t be roofed over.

Option #1: Tear-off & Replacement

Tear-off is pretty self-explanatory: You take (or tear) off the old roof, whether it be shingles, metal, or otherwise, and completely replace it with the new metal roof. This option could potentially add to the cost of installation because it’s labor intensive and takes more time to do.

Option #2 – Sub-purlin Retrofitting

Sub-purlin retrofitting involves putting a new metal roof over an existing roof system. This practice, which doesn’t open the building up to the elements, is typical in structural metal roof systems because it involves open framing (no roof deck). New purlins are designed to install over the existing roof and into the structural purlins of the building, often giving the roof structure additional strength, which the new metal roof will be attached to. For an example of this type of retrofitting, check out Roof Hugger.

Option #3: Stick-framing Retrofitting

This is typical when a building owner or architect wants an overall design change, so they go from a flat roof design to a pitched roof. Often times, they can achieve this without moving the structure’s HVAC or mechanical or plumbing while achieving their aesthetic architectural goals.

There are contractors and municipalities that will allow you to keep your existing roof, typically another metal roof or a shingle roof, and will install the new metal roof directly over it.

Option #4: Roofing Over Old Roof

Some contractors and municipalities will allow you to keep your existing roof, typically a metal or shingle roof, and will put the new metal roof over it. There are regions where you can have more than one or two roof layers, but there are also regions where you can only have one, so check with your contractor or local building codes administrator. Also, since many contractors offer workmanship warranties on their installation job, ensure that roofing over an existing roof won’t void or limit this warranty.

#3: Check with your municipality/HOA before you buy

Before you start getting quotes on a new metal roof, check with your municipality and/or your Home Owners Association (HOA) before you put down any money. There are some community organizations that don’t allow metal roofing to be installed on a new or existing home within its jurisdiction. Common reasons include:

Metal is often thought of as looking “industrial”

Metal can look inconsistent or go against the look or aesthetics of a neighborhood

Some municipalities consider some paint finishes to have a high glare

Specular Gloss – Defined as "...an optical property which indicates how well a surface reflects light in a specular (mirror-like) direction."

#4: Choose the right contractor(s) for you

Before you get quotes and bids from contractors, you’ll need to narrow down the contractors you feel comfortable choosing from. There’s no point in wasting time on getting a bid from a contractor that you wouldn’t feel comfortable hiring to do the job, no matter how low the price is.

How to Find the Right Roofing Contractor

There are contractors and installers who do great work installing metal roofing, and reputable manufacturers would be happy to point you in the right direction. At the same time, there are some contractors and installers who are inexperienced or unqualified to install metal roofing, which is why finding and ultimately choosing the right one is so vitally important.

To know if a contractor can perform to the highest standards possible, verify the following:

They are licensed, insured, and in good standing with the building department

They have proven experience installing metal roofing

They are helpful, responsive, and able to answer your questions

They provide detailed explanations of available products and install processes

They don’t require all costs to be paid 100% upfront

We recommend around 20% to 30% should be left to pay at time of completion

They have been recommended by family, friends, or neighbors who have used them as their installer

If you don’t know anyone who has a metal roof, look for reviews and recommendations on referral sites such as HomeAdvisor or Angie’s List

You can also contact the metal manufacturer to ask if they have any referrals in your area

Questions to Ask the Roofing Contractor

Unfortunately, there are some contractors and installers who are inexperienced or unqualified to install metal roofing, which is why finding and ultimately choosing the right one is so vitally important.

For a little bit of assistance in choosing the right roofing contractor, make sure to ask these questions during your consultation:

Are you a licensed roofing contractor?

Do you have photos or examples of jobs you’ve completed?

Do you have proof of workman’s compensation insurance?

Do you have proof of liability insurance?

How long does a typical project take to complete?

How will you protect my house, gutters, yard, and other items near my roof from damage?

Who will actually be doing the installation? Your workers or sub-contractors?

Will you need access to my home throughout the install?

What kind of warranties are available?

Who is my contact during the installation?

Does your bid/quote entail using the manufacturer’s standard details? If not, why?

Why are you recommending this roof system? How will it work with my roof characteristics?

What are the potential problem areas with my installation?

How do you plan to address these? What are my options and how will it affect the price?

Will the manufacturer offer assistance and troubleshooting?

Oil canning is a part of metal roofing, however what can you do to minimize it on my installation?

#5: Get a variety of bids

Any time you’re shopping around for a high-price item with many different add-ons and options, you should always get more than one quote or bid on an item. So after you’ve met with the contractors, been given information, and asked a lot of questions, pick out a few contractors that you would feel comfortable getting quotes/bids from.

We understand that the process of shopping around for contractors and getting a variety of quotes can seem long, but it’s worth the effort to ensure your new roof performs to the best of its ability.

What to Look for in a Bid or Quote

Any time you’re shopping around for a high-price item with many different add-ons and options, like metal roofing, you should always get more than one quote or bid on an item to compare costs and contractor capabilities.

The next step is analyzing the quotes you received from the narrowed pool of contractors. This is arguably one of the most important pieces of the metal roofing buying process. First and foremost, make sure everything about the project is spelled out in the quote. Then, take some time to review the bids and make sure the following pieces/parts are included:

A full scope of the work to be completed

Roof specs:

Pitch/slope

Square footage

Layers

Number of flashings/penetrations

Material costs:

Cost of metal + quantity/size

Cost of underlayment + quantity/size

Cost of fasteners, rivets, or screws + quantity

Cost of clips or clamps + quantity

Cost of plywood or other roof deck materials + quantity/size

Cost of flashings or pipe boots + quantity/size

Cost of sealants or butyl tape + quantity

Any other material required (drip edge, gutters, etc.)

Labor costs:

Tear-off cost per hour + number of hours to complete tear-off

Installation cost per hour + number of hours to complete installation

Includes panel install, roof deck install, accessory install, drip edge install, and other added materials that require time to install

Always make sure the contractor is using manufacturer details, which are industry approved installation methods

Be wary if a bid/quote is missing one or more of these parts. If you feel like the quote is missing pieces or is difficult to understand, contact the contractor and have a conversation about it.

#6: Don’t always take the lowest bid

You might be drawn to a bid because it’s the lowest one you’ve received. Sometimes taking the lowest bid is perfectly fine, but there are times where it may spell trouble and lead to unnecessary problems.

Why a Metal Roofing Bid Might be Low

Let’s discuss good and bad reasons of why a bid might have come in at such a lower price than the others:

OK reasons for a bid to be low:

It’s a smaller business with less overhead costs to compensate for

The job or project isn’t complex

No tear-off of the old roof is needed

NOT OK reasons for a bid to be low:

They’re not using quality materials

They forgot something

A roof section, penetrations, materials, any number of things

They’re using low-wage or less-qualified workers

They’re inexperienced and/or a newer business

If you require specific engineering for a system and they can’t validate they are providing one

Like we mentioned, sometimes a lower bid turns out to be a fine option that results in a well-performing metal roof. We recommend doing your research if someone does come in at a low bid by checking with references, referrals, customer reviews, and the contractor.

Which Metal Roofing Bid Should I Take?

There’s not a right answer for everyone on the best bid to take. Just remember to choose the contractor who:

Gave you a precise bid with the full scope of work to be done

Uses manufacturer provided installation details

Answered all your questions to your liking

Provided proof of metal roofing installation experience and knowledge

Most importantly: Choose a contractor who you trust to complete the job

#7: The price of a metal roof can quickly change

Once you have accepted a bid on the project, know that the price can quickly change at no fault to anyone. There are often unforeseen problems or additions, such as added plywood needed for a roof deck or another few feet of drip edge material needed, not covered in the quote and might need to be paid out of pocket. Discuss how these situations will be handled by your contractor before this occurs.

Also, if you’re purchasing a new metal roof because of an existing issue such as a leak, expect the price of a metal roof quote to be higher than usual. These problems will need additional work to be performed to remedy the problem before any new roof can be put on.

#8: Know what is or isn’t covered by a warranty

Above is an example of the substrate/paint warranty form provided by the contractor to the home or building owner, which must be completed and returned to the manufacturer.

Warranties are a huge selling point of metal roofing and can offer peace of mind for many consumers that their new metal roof will perform as well as promised. It’s important to understand the different elements a warranty consists of, including how to apply, who or what company is offering the warranty, the duration of the warranty, inclusions or exclusions, and who to contact if a claim needs to be filed.

Types of Metal Roof Warranties

Substrate – This type of warranty applies to the metal making up the core of the coil or sheet and often states that the substrate will not rust or degrade through the material for a specific duration of time. These are typically offered by the manufacturer.

Paint – A metal roof paint warranty covers certain levels degradation of the paint system applied to the substrate. This warranty is typically offered by the manufacturer on behalf of the paint company, such as Valspar or Sherwin-Williams.

Weather-tight – Weather-tight warranties cover leaks in a roofing system for a specific time period.Weather-tight warranties typically come from the manufacturer and are used for architects and building owners of non-residential structures to ensure longtime system integrity.

Workmanship – Workmanship warranties are offered (often included) by the roofing contractor and covers installation errors that could lead to problems or failures of the system. Having this warranty ensures that the contractor will come back and fix the issue at no additional charge. If a contractor is not willing to offer a workmanship warranty for at least two years, you might want to think twice about choosing them.

All warranties should come with a detailed outline of what is or isn’t covered, which you should keep and reference should you ever have questions.

Wrapping It All Up

It sounds like a lot of information to keep in mind, but the eight considerations we laid out will make a difference when you go to buy your new metal roof.

Remember:

Try your best to stay on budget, but know that the price of a metal roof can change quickly

Make sure your municipality or HOA allows metal roofs

Know the important questions to ask during contractor consultations

Get a variety of bids from contractors you feel comfortable choosing, but don’t always take the lowest bid

Know your warranty options and what is or isn’t covered by each one

At Sheffield Metals, we know how important it is to make the right buying decision the first time around, which is why want to help guide you through the process to ensure success.

We’re ready to answer your questions and give you recommendations; contact us today to speak with one of our metal roofing experts.

Welcome to Our Blog!

Are you looking for the most current information about the metal roofing industry? Our Metal Roofing Learning Center is designed to keep you informed about metal coils & sheets, metal panel systems, rollforming equipment, industry standards, and much more. Subscribe today!

Let's Talk! Contact Us:

Sheffield Metals International:

Sheffield Metals is a leader in the distribution of coated and bare metal products, as well as Engineered Standing Seam Metal Roof (SSMR) & Wall Systems. We specialize in providing painted Galvalume® and aluminum for the architecturally driven metal panel industry. Sheffield Metals has the ability to meet a wide array of needs with more than 50 colors continuously stocked. We can also match virtually any custom color to suit a particular project.